Stranded member formed of wire or metal strip, particularly applicable to electric conductors



4P. v. HUNTER Er AL 2, 91:;1'

ETAT.: STRIP, RTICULARL C DUCTO July 193s STRANDED MEMER 'FORME F WIRE OR M APPLICA TO ELECTRI Filed June 5, 19

ET AL 2,122,911 TAL STRP, PARTICULARLY LE TO ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS 937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. V. HUNTER RMED OF WIRE OR ME P CAB Filed June I5, 1

July l5, 193s.

4 STRANDED MEM July 5, 1938. P. v. HUNTER ET AL 2,122,911

STRANDED MEMBER FORME!) OF WIRE 0R METAL STRIP, PARTICULIARLY LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL IcI GGGGGGG ToRs Y Filed June 3, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig'' vtoeliet tot t, roet arcani crescono trennen socorro or METAL STEER PARTECULELY @FEA- ELE I ELEGTRIC @GEBUCTES Philio Vassar Hunter,

Belvedere, Kent, England, lenders Gaiole and @onstruction Limited; London,A Emsland,

i937, @crisi Nol, mt@

Micheal-lon tFone 3,

London, and Harry Hill,

ossimoro to Cal- Company, c British company En Grec-t Britain lune l?, i936 s claims. (ci. ritcci through, a pre-spiralled oval conductor formed in are subsequently to he insulated end then sseembled in a cable by being laid uo together) has the lo eect'o facilitating the laying un Wl'iich can 'ce distortion of the condone with very little, if any, ductor fromthe pre-signalled form. For this, it is necessary that the lay of the cores when assembled together should he ecuel to the length 2o of conductor in which the section makes a coniplete rotation about its artis. This is often referre'd to as the pre-splralled lay.l

In accordance with this invention, such c stranded member is formed of two parts, a. centrol part and an outer part. The central part is formed of wire or metal strip having e smoothly curved sectional outline corresponding with the non-circular `shape to be given to the nished member, and this part is given the pre-spirelled lay. The outerA part of the member is formed o one or morelayers of Wires which are all initially of similar sectional shape, which is not cirl cular but is in the form of. a four-sided. figure y approximating in shape to the averegeshape of the assembled Wires. Thesewlres are applied to the central perl', by a strendng operation carried 'out with a lay which is much shorter than the pre-spiralled lay. The layer or layers forming the outer part is `prefer-ahh' rolled or otherwise 40 compressed or drawn y wires of the outer part close together and'close to the central part determine the wires to the comparatively small extent necessary to change them from their original form to s. form inswhich they fit closely together.

The invention is further described hereinafter with reference, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, whereinz- Figure 1 `represents a transverse section 5l] through a pre-splrelled sector-shaped conductor formed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 represents the original sectional shope of wires used to form the outer cert of the conductor shown in Figure l; l i

Figure. 3 represents e transverse section to have e twisted down so esto press the- "sists of two members other members Il of another shape,

accordance with the invention;

Figure e represents the original sectional shape of wires used. to form. the outer part of the couductor shown in. Figure 3;

Figures 5 forni of machine for spiralled conductor;

and 5o together illustrate the production of the prec comme Figure 6 is s cross-sectional view, teiten on the line VI-V in Figure 5, position oi the component .shaped conductor illustrate prior to their entry into machine; Figure '.1 is an external View showing the mutuel dis parte ci the sectorei in Figure l. just the closing die of the oi a short length i5 of the iinished pre-solrolled sector-shaped con ductor; and

Figure 8 represents e treosver se section through o. pre-solrnlled, sector-shaped conductor similar to that shown in Figure l..

' The most common torres ci. te doctors ere e sector shape, es c l, with suhstsntielly rounded oval shape as shown in Figure The central part of the strand ls formed as c, or ss e group of wires or single wire or strip, strips, exemples of which. ure l, 3 and 8, depending lmainly sectional site of this port. For

sections an undivided control part con loe used,

corners, end, 3.

shown in Figures upon the crossthe smoller crossbut for the larger cross-sections it may be necessary to divide this' part into two, three, four or more portions.

The deciding factor will generally he the necessity for suclent flexibility to facilitate bending, both in the tor and in the com, lote cable. in the processes of In the forms illustrated in trol port is in both cases tions Generally where from sections, it will the central peri; is 'huilt up loe possible to make these sections of the same form. For instance, en

stranded conducn which is required manufacture and installation.

the drawings the cendivided into tour por ovol central port suchv cs the central part of the -strcrlded conductor represented in Figure similar sections l. Where be produced, this can be he huilt up from iour the sector shape is to 3, may 45 done by taking lour sections comprising two pairs ci diderent forms.

Thusthe control part of the sector-shaped conductor shown in Figure l con- 5o 2 of one shape and two symmetrically arranged. Alternativelytlie sector'iorm auch es is shown in Figure l` may he obtained hy errangan oval shape and g from point to l so as to facilitate `their indicated in broken lines in Figure 8, to produce subsequently deforming the assembled group from the oval'to the sector shape shown in full line ductor may be performed by passing the sections through rollers in a machine which gives the required pre-spiralled lay to the central part. For this purpose the central part, or the sections from which it is formed, may be fed straight through a machine from supply reels and may be engaged in the machine by two or more rolls of appropriate form, the rolls (in addition to rotation about their own axes) being rotated about the axis of forward movement of the conductor,

through the machine at an appropriate rate, in relation to the forward movement, to apply the pre-spiralled lay.

- The wires forming the outer part will generally be used in a single layer as is the case in both the examples shown in Figures 1, 3 and 8. i In the finished strand these wires will have approxi.- mately the form since the curvature of the periphery of the section of the central partof the conductor varies point, the sectional shape of the outer wires will also vary according to their individual positions around this periphery. Further, since the-outer wires are applied tothe central part with a lay which is much shorter `than the pre-spiralled lay and in a sense which may, although not necessarily, be opposite to the sense of the pre-spiralling, the cross-sectional shape of each wire will vary as it progresses round the central part.

It will be seen that each Wires, when they are tted closely together about the central'part, will have substantially the form of a trapezoid conformed to the curvation of the of the outer layer of surface of the central part, and, in order to arrive at this shape without very great deformation duringassembly, the wires will be made initially in a form which is a close approach to the average shape attained in the flnal grouping. Referring now more particularly to the examples illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the wires 4 forming the outer layer in both instances are initially of trapezoidal section, that is to say. in the form of a four-sided figure with two parallel sides. In the case of the sector section shown in Figure-1, the outer wires 4 are initially of rectangular trapezoidal form (Figure 2), which, when applied to the central sector-shaped. part, formed of four -separate wires, with a right hand lay, as represented in Figure 7, shorter than the prespiralling lay, are deformed to fit compactly about the smooth surface of the centre part and to present themselves a smooth exterior., 'I'he oval section shown in Figure 3 having a symmetrica] form permits the use of outer Wires 4 of isosceles trapezoidal form (Figure 4) which conform'to the oval central portion, formed of four similarly sectioned members I, with a minimum of deformation`.` It will be appreciated that the cross-sectional form and area of the initial wires 4 and the number thereof may be chosen application to produce the desired stranded conductor with a minimum deformation.

The assembly of the outer wires 4 on the central part of the conductor is a stranding opera-L tion combined with a consolidating operation, and

these two operations may be performed by one or more groups of rolls directly after they have been in Figure 8. The assembly of the central part of the stranded con-g of the stones of an arch, but

.ensures that the areacu closed, on the central part. It may'be convenient to effect the assembly of the central part-of the stranded conductor at the same time as the combined stranding and consolidating operation for the outer wires, the one set of rolls being adapted to apply simultaneously the required pre-spiralled lay to the central part and to the complete conductor. In` Figure 5 is illustrated a machine suitable for the construction in such a manner of a pre-spiralled stranded conductor in accordance with the invention.

As shown, the machine is set up to manufacture a sector-shaped strand of thirteen /wires and to give it a pre-spiralled form to render the completed and subsequently insulated strand suitable for laying up together with two other similar strands to make a three core cable. 'Ihe strand thus manufactured co'nsists of the four wires 2, 2, 3, (Figure l) forming the shaped core about which are stranded the nine rectangular trapezoidal wires 4 (Figure 2). Referring to Figure 5, the back plate 5 of the stranding machine is secured to the shaft turning in the bearings i and 8. To provide thefour inner wires of the strand four bobbins 9 are required, mounted on spindles secured to the back plate 5 and parallel to the axis thereof. 'I'he wires withdrawn from these bobbins are guided through a guide ring I to enter one of four `tubes II. These tubes I I, hunched together and secured by being Welded at intervals, pass through the hollow mandrel I2 of the frame or cage I 3 which is in axial alignment with the back plate and have fitted over their end parts and secured thereto at each end a sleeve member I4 running in ball bearings I5, one of which adjacent the back plate is mounted on a pedestal I6, and the casing of the other, at the extreme front end, is secured to the `runner head IT. The rearmost sleeve I4 is coupled tothe frame I8 carrying the guide ring I0 and nest of tubes II .rotates within the hollow mandrel I2 at the speed of the back plate 5 and independently of the mandrel rotation. This effectively prevents any entanglement of th'e wires which might otherwise be produced during their passage through the mandrel I2. The forward sleeve I4' carries a die plate I9 through which the four wires are guided after passage through the tubes I I. The guiding apertures in this die plate I8 are of such form that the four .wires 2, 2, 3, 3, are maintained in the required relative formation to permit them to engage ultimately in the sector form, their relative positions after passing through the die-plate and before entering the closing die being represented in Figure 6. l

The nine outer wires 4 .of the strand are withdrawn from bobbins 20 carried within the cage I3. This cage is of the usual type and comprises three discs 2| carried on a. hollow mandrel I2 which is supported at the rear end in a bearing 22 and at the front end by a bearing 23 in which the runner head I1 turns. The cage is additionally supported by roller supports 24 upon which restthe discs 2i.V The cage is divided into two compartments, the forward .one containing six, and the rear one containing three, symmetrically arranged bobbins. Each bobbin 20 is rotatably mounted on a spindle 25 in a frame 28 which is fixed to the cage so that, as the cage I3 rotates, the bobbins spindle 25 always remains tangential to its circular path about the axis of the hollow mandrel I2. In this manner it is ensured that each of the trapezoidal wires 4 being withdrawn from the bobbins20 always presents the same side strand, maintained by the `just prior to their entry to the revolving head 29 of its section to the inner core, as shown in Figure 6. I'he wire 4 leaving each bobbin is led over a guide pulley 21, through an aperture in the adjacent disc 2 I, through appropriate apertures in the runner head II and through a die plate 28 secured thereto. From this die plate the wires 4 converge to enter aclosing die in the revolving head 29 in which they and the inner wires derived from the back plate are assembled. The assembled wires pass rolls whereby the outer wires are consolidated to iit closely together upon the central part to form the sector shape represented in Figure 1. The completed strand 30 is inally drawn o by means of tension applied to it by the draw-ofi capstan 3|.` The relative disposition of the component wires oi the outer layer and central part of the die-plates I9 and 28,

is represented by the section in Figure 6. In order to produce the required pre-spiralllng of the 'conductor it is necessary to ensure that the back plate 5 and the revolving head 29 shall rotate together about the axis of the machine at a speed having a pre-determined relationship with theforward movement of the nished strand, which relationship is decided by the required length of lay o! the pre-spiralled strand. The drive to the several rotating partsis obtained from a driving shaft 32 extending along one side of the machine and provided with belt pulleys 33. The cage I3 is driven from this shaft through suitable change gears 34 which engage a gear wheel 35 keyed on to the hollow mandrel I2. The speed of rotation of the cage is chosenso as to apply the outer layer of wires 4 with a length of lay which is shorter than the pre-spiralling lay, as indicated in Figure 7. The direction of stranding of these wires may be right vor left-handed, the required direction of rotation of the cage being. selected accordingly. The drawing-ofi capstan 3I is drlvenvfrom through a suitable reduction gearing 33 atfthe forward end of the machine. The revolving head 29 is driven through a reduction gear 31 and a chain drive 38 which engages a chain sprocket 39 aiiixed to the shaft which carries the revolving head 29 and which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 4I). A lay shaft 4I extends parallel to the main driving shaft 32, and is driven bya chain drive 42- from the gear driveto the revolving head 29. From this lay shaft 4I the back plate 5 is driven by a chain drive 43, the gear ratio of the drive 42 to the shaft 4I and of the drive 43 to the back plate 5 being chosen so that the back plate and the rotating head 29 rotate'synchronously in the same direction about the axis of the machine. By the improved form and method of therefrom between a pair of V the driving shaft 32 construction described above it is possible to produce a stranded member of non-circular prespiralled form which has a close approximation to the same area of cross-section as a solid member of the same sectional outline. At the same time, this can be done without sacriiicing the iiexibility ofthe complete member and its ability f .pre-spiralled stranded electric conductor having a central part and an outer part, consisting of forming of strip av member having a smoothly curved sectional outline corresponding with the non-circular shape of the iinished conductor, prespiralling the member to form the central part, forming each of a number of wires with an initial cross-sectional shape which is that of a foursided iigure, stranding around the central part av layer of these wires and consolidating the wires to fit closely together upon the central part to i'orm the outer part, shape of each ofthe wires approximating to the average shape of the wires after consolidation.

2. A method of manufacture of a non-circular pre-spiralled stranded electric conductor having a central part and an outer part, consisting of forming of strip a member having a smoothly curved sectional outline corresponding with the non-circular shape of the finished conductor, prespiralling the member to form the central part, forming each of a number of wires with a crosssectional shape which is that of a rectangular trapezoid, stranding around the .central part a layer of these wires and consolidating the wires to nt closely together upon the' central part to,V

form the outer part.

- 3. A method of manufacture of a non-circular pre-spiralled stranded electric conductor having a central part and an outer part, consisting of forming of strip a member having a `smoothly curved sectional outlinecorresponding with the non-circular shape of the finished conductor, prec spiralling the member to form the central part, forming each oi a number of wires with a crossisectional shape which is that of an isosceles trapezoid, stranding around the central part a layer of these wires and consolidating the wires to t closely together upon the central part to form the outer part.

PHILIP VASSAR HUNTER.

HARRY HILL.

the initial cross-sectional 

